Photo of three people sitting around a table looking at a blueprint.

From the Purchase to the Build: Ensuring Safe, Certified Playground Installations

This PRB+ University session will address the importance of verifying that playground equipment and surfacing materials are certified, as well as ensuring the recreation area installer is a certified professional, for compliance to ASTM standards.

2 min read

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Class Duration & Estimated CEUs/CECs

·      Class Duration: 13 minutes, 19 seconds

·      Estimated CEUs/CECs: 0.02 CEUs/CECs (calculated using the standard conversion 1 CEUs/CECs = 10 contact hours; 13:19 = .2219 contact hours, and .2219 ÷ 10 = 0.0222 CEUs/CECs rounded to the nearest hundredth)

Selecting playground equipment is about far more than aesthetics and budget—it’s about safety, compliance, and long-term performance. This course guides parks and recreation professionals through the critical steps involved in purchasing certified playground equipment and ensuring proper installation by qualified professionals. Participants will learn why product certification matters, how to evaluate installers and surfacing contractors, and how informed decisions during procurement directly impact safety, liability, and maintenance costs.

Through real-world examples and industry standards, this session provides practical guidance to help agencies confidently move from product selection to final installation while meeting national safety and certification requirements.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of purchasing certified playground equipment and surfacing products.
  2. Identify key certifications relevant to playground equipment and installers.
  3. Describe the risks associated with non-certified products and improper installation.
  4. Evaluate contractors and installers based on certification and qualifications.
  5. Apply best practices to reduce liability and improve playground safety outcomes.

After successfully passing the Knowledge Check, participants will receive a follow-up email with their quiz results, class description, and learning objectives. These records can be used to follow the self-report/self-directed method of obtaining CEUs/CECs, in which students submit materials to their accrediting organization or education chair, and the approving body makes the final determination about awarding credits. For more details about how PRB+ University CEUs/CECs work, visit: https://www.prbplus.com/ceus/. 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Photo of Kelly Clark
Kelly Clark

Kelly Clark, Certification Associate, has overseen certification programs for both NPCAI and IPEMA since 2013. Her responsibilities include ensuring compliance to the certification program(s) as well as instructor training and working with third-party validators. Prior to this position, Kelly worked with various other associations.

Tags

PRB+ UniversityParkFest 2025Playground Track
Northstar Publishing